A crappy picture, I know, but it highlights the super cool backlit keys of my new toy. Also, it helps me to demonstrate just how quickly this is knitting up. I snapped that photo on Thursday afternoon.

I took these a few hours ago. I’m finally knitting a felicity hat– or, perhaps more accurately, I’m self-soothing with stockinette. I finished my grading on Wednesday afternoon, and I jumped right back into my own work yesterday. Today? Well, let’s just say that the semester caught up to me. I’ve done some reading, and a bunch of little things, but mostly I’ve been watching The Good Wife and working on this hat.

I had decided that I wasn’t going to knit any holiday gifts this year, but then I remembered that my brother’s girlfriend will be joining us for Christmas morning…and while everyone else in my immediate family has already received a handknit accessory (or several), she hasn’t. And her hair isn’t as big as mine, so I think this hat will suit her. (And I’ll get to try it on. I’m not convinced that these snug at the forehead, slouchier in the back hats are ideal for someone with a head full of curls.)

More in the faking it department:

Derrida or not, this whole trying to at least look put together thing is a great idea.

Also a great idea? Things, a to-do list (and so much more) program written for Mac. Not to get too nerdy on you (ha!), but I’ve been trying to think more about my workflow, and get as much of my life/work onto my computer as I can. I have never been able to keep a digital calendar, and I finally figured out why: I rarely use my calendar for time-specific events and appointments. Sure, they’re there, but really, I use all the space outside of the appointment slots and calendar boxes to jot notes, ideas, to-dos, etc. Enter Things, recommended by my dear friend S. So far, it seems to be working with my brain. I tell you all of this to (a) alert you to the fact that you can try it for free for 2 weeks and (b) to set up the next photo. I’ve been putting scheduled events as well as to-dos into Things, and I happened to enter in a party (theme: sparkles) that a friend of mine was hosting for the end of the semester. I am rather hermit-like, and I was all set to curl up with Boh on the couch on Wednesday night, when I saw my Things list. I had done everything on my list except attend the party, which had just begun. So I changed into sparkly clothes, and made an effort to be social. And I had fun!

You can’t see them, but I wore tuxedo pants that have a black sequined stripe down the side. Amazing. Anyway, when I got home, I clicked the box next to the last thing on my list. Which was incredibly satisfying.

I should read, but I’m probably going to watch one more episode of The Good Wife before I do.  Happy weekend!